Cargo Handling Grows 6.3% at Paraná Ports

Cargo operations at the ports of Paraná are reaching impressive levels in 2025. In the first quarter, cargo throughput totaled 17,420,779 tonnes, marking a 6.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 16,384,054 tonnes were handled.

This performance has brought positive results for the state. From January to March this year, the Paraná ports recorded four all-time operational records for the company, compared to the same period in previous years.

“Soybeans and fertilizers were the highest volume commodities handled in the first quarter, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming months due to the large harvest,” said Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of Portos do Paraná.

Soybean grain exports reached 4,177,143 tonnes, a 13% increase from last year’s 3,694,168 tons. Fertilizers led imports, totaling 2,739,120 tonnes this year, up from 2,653,354 tonnes in the first three months of 2024.

“Fertilizers are our main import commodity, and we’ve been investing in strategic intelligence to handle them more efficiently,” noted Gabriel Vieira, Operations Director at Portos do Paraná.

March Performance

March saw the most significant jump in cargo movement, driven mainly by soybean exports, which totaled 2,073,092 tonnes. Another highlight was the container terminal, with 804,939 tonnes shipped. Soybean meal exports also performed strongly, reaching 769,619 tons.

Key import highlights included fertilizers (899,073 tonnes), containers (580,469 tonnes), and petroleum by-products (403,863 tonnes).

“Moegão” Project

To meet the growing trade volume, the public company is moving forward with the “Moegão” project—a R$600 million investment that will centralize the rail lines arriving at the Port of Paranaguá. The new structure will increase the port’s capacity to receive bulk agricultural cargo by more than 60% from within Paraná and other states.

“With 35% of the work completed, delivery is expected by the end of this year. The Moegão is designed to meet current and future demand, especially after the implementation of the new Ferroeste railway,” Garcia added.

Terminal Auctions

New leased terminal areas are also being offered to further support the increased cargo flow. On April 30, three more areas will be auctioned on B3, Brazil’s main stock exchange. In 2019, Portos do Paraná became the first in the country to receive federal authorization to conduct port lease auctions, and five areas have been successfully auctioned so far.

As a result, Paranaguá is on track to become the first Brazilian port to regularize 100% of its lease areas, with investments totaling R$3.8 billion.

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